Tobacco-machine



G. H. JACKSON.

TOBACCO MACHINE.

- APPLICATION man JAN. a. 1918. 1,366,386, Patented Jan. 25, 1921.

4 SHEETSSHEET l.

WITNESSES h nwmmn aim/ AM Ac/rswv g BY 2 l t L rmnwers G. H. .IACKSON.

TOBACCO MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 8.

INVENTUR GRAHAM h. JAG/{501V WITNESSES G. H. JACKSON.

TOBACCO MACHINE.

APPLICATION FiLED JAN. 8. 19m.

1,366,386. Patented Jan. 25, 1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

A T TOHIVEYS G. H. JACKSON.

TOBACCO MACHINE.

KPPLICATIUN HLED JAN. 8. 918. 1,366,386. Patented Jan. 25, 1921.

INVENTOR GRIT/MM H. JACKSON WITNESSES A TTOHNE Y8 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GRAHAM H. JACKSON, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO UNIVERSAL TOBACCO MACHINE 00-,01' NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION 01 NEW YORK.

TOBACCO-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 25, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GRAHAM H. JACKSON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Newark, county of Essen, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tobacco-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to tobacco machines and has for its object to provide an improved stripping, mechanism whereby the stripping of the leaf is accomplished in a noveland efficient manner and so as to reduce the waste in both stem and leaf to a minimum. Other objects of my invention will appear in the description hereinafter and the features of novelty will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Reference is to i: had to the accompanying drawings in which I have shownmy improvements incorporated m a combined stripping and booking machine of the t e shown in the Deiller and Deiller Patent 0. 985,984 of March 7, 1911. It is to be understood that this is only an example used for illustrative and descriptive purposes and that my invention is equally well adapted for combination with other machines Wl'llCll either stri and book the leaf or which simply strip the same. In said drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of a tobacco machine including my improvements; Fig. 2 1s a vertical section thereof; Fig. 3 is a detail plan view; Fig. 4 is a face yiew of one of the cutting members; Fig. 5 is an edge view showing a pair of cutting members 1n operative relation to each other; Fig. 6 is a view similar to F i 2 but illustrating a different form of cutting member; Fig 7 is a face view of said cutting member; ig. 8 is a detail section showing a different form of cutting arrangement; Fig. 9 is a detail plan view thereof and Fig. 10 is a face view of a tobacco leaf after it has been stripped according to my improvements.

The general construction of the tobacco stripping and booking machine which has been chosen herein as a medium for illustrating an example of my improvements is clearly described in the patent hereinbefore referred to, and with the exception of the changes and additions hereinafter referred to may remain the same in the present case. The machine in question comprises an upright frame 15 of suitable construction, u on which a transverse shaft 16 is journaled in suitable bearings 17. This shaft 16 carries two sections 18 and 19 which together form a booking drum upon which the tobacco leaves are booked, after being stripped; each drum section 18 and 19, in the present case, 1s provided with a hub 20 and a set screw 21 whereby said sections are secured upon the shaft so as to be adjustable lengthwlse thereof for the purpose to be more fully explained hereinafter. The illustrated machine also includes the endless belts 22 which pass over the drum sections 18 and 19 and over rollers 23, 24, 25, 26 and 27 ournaIed in suitable bearings upon the frame 15 and whereby the booked leaves are maintained upon the booking drum in the well known way; the belts are maintained under the proper tension at all times by tension rollers 28 carried b pivotally mounted bell cranks 29 controlle by counter-weights 30. The driving mechanism whereby the machine is operatively driven may comprise any suitable arrangement and in the present case consists of a main shaft 31 journaled on the frame 15 and carrying a pinion 32 in mesh with a gear 33 also rotatably mounted on said frame 15. The gear 33 in turn is in mesh with a pinion 34 operatively combined with the roller 23 for instance by being mounted upon the same shaft. The driving mechanism may further include a pulle 35 loosely mounted on the shaft 31 and driven by means of suitable belt and powermechamsm; the pulley 35 may form one member of a clutch, the other elements 36 of which are secured upon the shaft 31 to rotate therewith the clutch mechanism may be thrown into and out of operation by a suitable lever 37 pivotally mounted at 38 upon the frame 15 and operatively connected by means of a link 39 with a suitable-foot treadle 40. The details of construction and method of operation of the clutch mechanism so far described and whereby the machine is manually controlled may be the same as in the patent hereinbefore referred to. The preferred arrangement further includes means whereby the clutch mechanism is operated to automatically stop the machine at iven intervals; this means will be more ully referred to and described further on in the description. With the arrangement set forth power is applied to the main shaft 31 and pinion 32 each time the treadle 40 is operated to throw in the clutch elements 36 whereby the pulley 35 and shaft 31 are open.

atively connected and is transmitted through the medium of the car 33 to the pinion 34 and roller 23; in tliis manner the belts 22 are driven and in turn serve to rotatably drive the transverse shaft 16 and booking drum sections 18 and 19. The machine so far described may further include a hand lever 41 and links 42 for operating the apron 43 in a manner to provide free access for instance to the completed books of tobacco leaves when it is desired to remove same. In addition to the above any other elements and features customarily found in machines of the ty e in question ma be included, the details 0 construction and illustrated machine, excepting in so far as they relate to my improvements and have been changed, added or provided by me, not being essential to my invention.

My improvements relate essentially to the stripping mechanism and in the illustrated example comprise cutting members 44 and 45 in the nature of circular knives which in the forni shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 have their peripheries or cutting edges interrupted or recessed at a single point as indicated at 46, said cutting ed es in other words being non-continuous. he interruptions o-r recesses 46 are preferably formed by removing or omitting pieces of substantially triangular shape rom the knives in the manufacture thereof, so that said recesses 46 in consequence have a substantial form as shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

In practice the knives 44 and 45 are secured in any suitable manner, as by screws 47, upon the opposed ends of the drum sections 18 and 19 so as to be located in cooperating pairs in spaced, arallel relation to each other as shown in igs. 2, 3 and 5. It will be understood that the knives 44 and 45 are positioned so that the recesses 46 thereof will be in registry with each other and further that the diameters of said knives are somewhat greater than the diameter of the drum sections 18 and 19; when operatively combined with the machine the knives 44 and 45 thus form what may be termed cutting flanges which extend beyond the surface of the drum excepting at the recesses 46. The cutting members or knives further include transverse cutting projections 48 which extend transversely between each pair of knives at the points where the bases as of the recesses join the cutting peripheries of the knives as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. These transverse cutting projections 48 preferably comprise integral ortions of the knives bent at substantially right angles thereto, it being understood that the projection 48 is formed on one of the blades 44 or 45, the other blade of the pair bein minus said projection. In the illustrate example the cutting members or operation of the of the springs 55. To insure the knives in each pair are adjusted with res ect to each other and in accordance with t e width of the stems to be stripped by shifting the drum sections 18 and 19 on the shaft 16 and are secured in their adjusted .70 positions through the medium of the set screws 21. The cutting or strip ing mechanism in the form being descri ed further includes cutting rollers 49 and 50 which are arranged to travel upon and cooperate respectively with the cutting edges of the knives 44 and 45 to strip the leaf as will be more fully brought out hereinafter. To provide for a pro r cooperation between the knives and tfi: rollers regardless of variations in the cutting edges of said knives or inequalities therein, the rollers 49 and 50 are independently mounted so as to be capable of vibration relatively to each other and of independently adjustlngthemselves to the cutting members 44 and 45. In the illustrated example the means where- ,by this is accomplished comprises arms 51 upon which rollers 49 and 50 are respectively mounted, each arm 51 being secured to or preferably forming an integral part of a sleeve 52 rotatably mounted upon a rod 53 mounted upon the frame 15. These sleeves 52 are capable of an independent rocking movement upon the rod 53 and at their outer ends carry levers 54 each of which is controlled by a sprin 55 having an end secured to the free en of a lever and its other end fastened to a suitable In 56 upon the frame 15; these springs 55 each exert a tension upon the levers 54 tending to maintain the rollers 49 and 50 in proper contact with the cutting edges of the knives 44 and 45. In order to arrest the swinging movement of the arms 51 and to prevent the rollers 49 and 50 from contacting with the surface of the booking drum when said rollers are opposite the interrupted or recessed portions of the knives, stops 57 are provided on the frame 15 at proper points to engage the levers 54 and arrest the swinging movement thereof under the influence roper ejection of the stems from the mac ine I provide a resilient member 58 located between the knives 44 and 45. This member 58 has its one end secured for instance to one of said knives by means of a screw 59 and referably follows the peripheries of said ives in approximatel flush relation thereto, the free end of sai member preferably lying in close roximit to the recesses 46 as shown in Fig. 4. The machine shown in the illustrated example further includesan idler roller 25' journaled on the frame 15 in cooperative relation with the roller 25 and together therewith comprising feeding means whereby the tobacco leaf is fed into the machine.

As previously stated, the preferred arrangement includes means whereby the machine is automatically stopped at predetermined intervals to bring the strip ing mechanism and booking drum into t e proper and desired positions for the proper introduction of successive leaves of tobacco; with the form of cutting members 44 and 45 shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5 this automatlc stoppage would occur at the end of each complete revolution of said cutting members and of the bookin drum. As shown in the illustrated examp e, said means comprises an arm 60 secured upon the transverse shaft 16 so as to pro ect radially therefrom and carrying a rigid lug or pm 61 at its free end. 11 order to bring about the desired results this arm 60 and its lug or pin 61 must bear a certain relation to the recesses 46 of the knives or cutters 44 and 45; said arm 60 is thus preferabl adjustably mounted upon the shaft 16 an for this purpose may be provided with a split hub and lugs 62 arranged to exert a 0 am ing action on the shaft 16 through the me ium of a bolt or the like 63. The automatic arrangement being describedfurther includes a lever 64 pivoted at 65 upon the frame 15 and adapted to swing vertically between stationary stops 66 and 67; the lever 64 is pivotally connected at 68 with one end of a connecting rod 69, the other end of which is pivotally connected at 70 with one arm of a bell crank lever 71. The latter is pivoted upon a bracket 72 on the frame 15 and has its other arm projecting u wardly into the recess of a hook or the li e 73 operatively combined with the lever 37. As shown in Fi 1 the lever 64 is formed with a slideway 4 in which a plunger 75 is slidably mounted, said plunger 75 normally projecting outwardly beyond said lever 64 into the path of the pin or lug 61 of the arm 60 as the latter rotates with the drum in a manner to be more fully set forth hereinafter. The inner end of the plunger 75 carrise a pin 76 which extends into a slot 77 formed at one end of a lever 78 ivoted at 79 upon the frame 15, the 0 posts end of said ever 78 being connected with one end of a spring 80 which has its other end fastened to an ear 81 located on the frame 15. As will be apparent, the spring 80, through the medium of the lever 78, serves to mamtain theplunger 75 in and return it to its normal outwardly projecting position. The pivot 79 is in the nature of a pin fixed to the lever 78 and projects through its bearing in the frame 15 where it carries a fixed arm 82 which is operatively connected by means of a connecting link 83 with a treadle 84 pivoted at the bottom portion of the.

frame 15.

In practice the fparts are so adjusted that, in the position 0 rest of the machine, the

forward ends 5 of the recesses 46 of the and 2. At the same time the arm 60 is sopositioned on the shaft 16 that its free end with the pin or lug 61 is at the required distance from the ends 6 in a circumferential direction to bring the machine to a stop at the proper point each time for the insertion of successive leaves of tobacco.

'In operation, assumin the machine to have been properly starts the ti end 0 of the tobacco leaf (1 is introduce between the rollers 25 and 25 with the stem of said leaf in registry with the s ace between the two knives 44 and 45, it ing understood that the rollers referred to are properly located to make this possible. s the feed rollers 25 and 25 are actuated the leaf will be carried a-lon the bolts 22 assisting in the feed thereo as this'happens the portions of the leaf on opposite sides of the stem will lie u on the drum sections 18 and 19 and wi be held thereon by said belts 22, the tip end 0 of said leaf being located at or in close proximit to the point I) of the knives 44 and 45. ecause of the recesses 46 of said knives the leaf as it is fed into the machine will remain uncut or unstripped for a distance from its end and will consequently retain a portion of its stem approximately equal in length to the distance between the point 5 of the knives and the transverse cutting projection 48. As soon as the latter arrives beneath the rollers 49 and 50 the leaf will be passed between said rollers and the cutting projection 48 and owing to the cooperating action thereof will receive a cut e extending transversely of and somewhat beyond the stem on either side as indicated in Fig. 10. From this point the cuttin edges or peripheries of the knives 44 an 45 act in con'unction with the rollers 49-and 50 and cut t e remainder or butt end portion of the stem from the leaf, so as to strip the latter as indicated at f in Fig. 10. It will be understood that the knives 44 and 45 cut the leaf along opposite sides and as close to the butt end ortion of the stem as is convenient, the knives being adjusted relatively to each other to roduce this result as nearly as possible in a 1 leaves of a given bundle or supply. That portion of the stem which is cut out or stripped caused a depression of the resilient member 58 thus placing same under a tension which causes said stem to be ejected from the machine at the proper time. The leaf after being partly stripped as described, is booked, in the illustrated machine, upon the drum sections 18 and 19 and is held thereon by the belts 22 with the unstrip ed portion bridging the space between said drum sections at the recesses 46.

As the machine is operated in the manner set forth the arm 60 will be carried alon with the result that the pin or lug 61 thereo will finally engage the lunger 75 from below and thus exert a li tin action thereon. This causes the lever 65 to be swun on its pivot 65 whereby the connecting ro 69 is raised and swin the bell crank lever 71 on its pivot; this rlngs about an actuation of the lever 37 throu h the medium of the hook 7 3 which causes t e clutch elements 36 and the pulley 35 to be disengaged and the machine thus brought to a stop. When it is desired to a ain start the mechanism the treadle 84 is epressed thus exerting a pull upon the link 83 and actuating the arm 82 and lever 78 whereby the plunger 75 is withdrawn from engagement with the pin or lug 61 of the arm 60; as soon as this happens the lever 64 drops back and through the medium of its connected and coiiperatin parts throws the clutch elements 36 and pu ley 35 into operative enga ment with each other whereby the machine is again started. The ti end of a new leaf may now be inserted etween the rollers 25 and 25 and the operation repeated, this being continued until the desired number of leaves have been stripped or books of the desired dimensions have been produced. It will be understood, if at any time or for any reason it becomes necessary to stop the mechanism at an intermediate point that the treadle 40 is depressed. This actuates the connecting link 39 and operates the lever 37 to disengage the clutch elements 36 and pulley 35.

In some cases the drum may be designed to hold a plurality of bookings at intervals upon its periphe or the smallness of the leaf being strlppe may make this desirable. To provide for this the knives 44 and 45, instead of having their cutting eripheries interrupted or recessed at a sing e int as are the knives 44 and 45, are provi with two or more recesses 46 and 46 as shown in Fig. 6. With this form of cutting members or knives the transverse cutting members similar to the members 48, one for the recesses 46 and another for the recesses 46", may both be carried by or formed on one of the knives in which case the other knife would be minus such projections or one rojection 48 may be carried by or form on each knife as will be readily apparent. In this case it is also necessary or at least desirable to stop the machine at intervals corresponding to the number of recesses formed in the cutting members; in the form illustrated in Fig. 7 this would mean a stoppage twice in each complete revolution of said knives or of the booking drum. In

order to provide the desired result auto- .matically a double arm 60 is substituted for the single arm and is adjustably secured upon the shaft 16 by means of a s lit hub and lugs 62 and a bolt 63; this dou le arm 18 provided at its 0 osite ends with pine or ugs 61 each of w 1ch is adaptedto throw out the clutch mechanism in the same way as the single arm 60. Otherwise the constructlon and operation of the form of my improvements at present being described may be the same as the form first referred to.

It may further be desirable to substitute a sln gle roller 50 for the rollers 49 and 50, the single roller 50 being of suflicient width to roplerly cooperate with the cutting edges of ot knives 44 and 45 or 44 and 45 as the case may be. -In order that such single roller 50 may adjust itself to inequalities in each cutting periphery or to diflerences between the cutting perlpheries of the knives, It is of advantage to mount said roller so that, in addition to being capable of moving toward and away from the knives, it will be capable of rockin transversely thereto. This may be accomp ished in any suitable manner as by mounting the roller 50 in a forked member 51 having a stem 51 rotatably mounted in a bearing 52 formed on a sleeve 52. The latter may correspond to the sleeves 52 and is suitably journaled on the frame 15, the axes of rotation of the sleeve 52" and stem 51 bein at substantially right angles to each 0t er as shown in Fi 8 and 9. The roller 50 is maintaine in contad with the cutting ed of the knives by means of springs 55 and i rms 54 located at op osite ends of the sleeves 52 and corres on ing to the rin 55 and arms 54 of t e form first escr1 ed; the swin ing movement of the roller 50 toward the rum is also preferably arrested by means of stops 57 coiiperatin with the arms 54 and corresponding to t e stops 57.

It will be seen, in all the forms of my improvement, that the leaf is only partly stripped in such a manner that the tenderest portion of the stem which is useful for many purposes is permitted to remain as a part thereof and is not wasted; in other words only the toughest, most useless portion of the stem is removed thus reducing waste of material to a minimum. By first cutting the leaves transversel of the stem at an intermediate point and byhavin this transverse cut extend somewhat beyon the stem in opposite directions a clean cutting of the leaf beyond the transverse cut is assured and tearing is avoided. That ortion of the stem which is to be stri ped is thus cut cleanly from the leaf wit out waste and without damage to said leaf. My improvements also make it readily possible to cut closely along that portion of the stem which is to be remesses moved so that waste of otherwise useful tobacco leaf is also reduced to a minimum.

My improved strippin means and other improvements herein set orth are all simple in construction and eflicient and economical in o eration. It will, of course, be understoo that my improved stripping means may be operatively combined with tobacco machines other than that illustrated and further that said means comprises a mechanism' capable of use b combination with a boo 'ng machine.

Various changes in the specific forms shown and described may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. In a stripping machine, a cutting de vice comprising a cutter whereby the stem of the tobacco lea is transversely cut at a point intermediate of its ends and cutters whereby a section of said stem extendin up to said transverse cut is positively cut om the leaf and means for actuatin said cutting device.

2. In a stri pin mac ine, a rotatable cuttin means w ere y the stem of the tobacco lea is transversely cut at a point intermediate of its ends and longitudinally from said transverse cut whereby a section of said stem extending from said transverse cut to an end of the stem is positively cut from the leaf and mechanism for actuating said means.

3. In a stripping machine, a rotatable cutting device comprising combined transverse and spaced parallel cutting members whereby the stem of the tobacco leaf is cut transversely of its length and longitudirially from said transverse cut to ositively cut a section of said stem from said leaf and means for actuating said cutting device.

4. A strip in mechanism comprising a cutter wherel y the stem of the tobacco eat is cut transversely at a point intermediate of its ends, a pair of cooperating cutting members whereby a double cut ismade engthwise-along opposite sides of said stem from said transverse cut to ositively cut a section of stem from said lea and from the remainder of said stem, said cutter extendin transversely to said cutting members an bein carried thereby, and means whereby sai transverse cutter and cutting members are actuated.

5. A stripping mechanism comprising cutting means lncluding rotatable devices having non-continuous cutting edges concentric with the axis of rotation whereby a continuous cut is made alon the stem of a tobacco leaf and automatica y arrested at a predetermined point without interfering with the rotation of said rotatable devices and means for 0 rating said cutting means.

6. n a strippin mechanism a pair of cooperating rotatab e cutting members arranged in axial registry and spaced from itself and without 7 each other, said cutting members having cut ting edges concentric with the common axis of rotation thereof and interru ted at points in registry with each other w ereby a continuous double cut is made and arrested at a redetermined oint.

- In a stripping. mechanism a pair of cooperating circular cutting members 'arranged in parallel and spaced relation to each other and recessed in registry with each other to form non-continuous cutting ed es and a transverse cutting member extending transversely between said circular cutting members.

8. In a stripping mechanism a pair of cooperating circular cutting members arranged m parallel and spaced relation to each other and recessed in registry with each other to form non-continuous cutting ed es, a transverse cutting member extending transversely between said circular cutting members and rotatable means in rolling engagement with the cutting edges of said cutting members.

9. In a stripping mechanism a pair of cooperatin circular cutting members arranged m parallel and spaced relation to each other and recessed in registry with each other to form non-continuous cutting edges, a transverse cutting member extending transversely between said circular cutting members and independently mounted rollers in rolling engagement with the cutting edges of Said cutting members.

10. In a stripping mechanism, a rotatablecutting member having a peripheral cutting edge and a peripheral recess whereby the cutting action of said cutting edge is periodically and automatically interru ted without interfering withthe rotation o the cuttin member.

11. In a strip ing mechanism, a rotatable cutting mom or havin a cutting ed concentric with the axis 0 rotation and a plurality of peri heral recesses whereby the cuttin action 0 said cuttin edge is periodical y and automatically interrupted at spaced intervals without interfering with the rotation of the cutting member.

12. In a stripping mechanism, a rotatable cutting member havin a cutting edge concentric with the axis 0% rotation and a pair of peripheral recesses located at diametrically opposite points whereby the cuttin action 0 said cuttin edge is riodi- Fy and automatically mterrupte withwith the rotation of the cutcal out interfering ting member.

13. In a tobacco stripping and booking machine, a booking drum comprisin two sections axially spaced from each 0t er, a pair of circular cutting members secured to the opposed ends of said drum sections and having non-continuous cutting edges, rotatable means in rolling engagement with said cutting edges means for actuating said machine and adjustable means whereb said actuating means is automatically isconnected to stop the machine at predetermined intervals.

14. In a tobacco stripping and booking machine, a booking drum comprisin two sections axially spaced from each ot er, a pair of circular cuttin members secured to the opposed ends of said drum sections and having non-continuous cutting edges, rotatable means in rolling engagement with said cutting edges, means for actuating said machine and an adjustable arm operatively connected with said drum sections and cutting members whereby said actuating means is automatically disconnected to stop the machine at predetermined intervals.

15. In a tobacco stripping and booking machine, a booking drum comprisin two sections axially spaced from each ot er, a pair of circular cutting members secured to the opposed ends of said drum sections and having non-continuous cutting edges, a stem ejecting member located between said cutting members, and adjustable means whereby said actuating means is automatically disconnected to stop the machine at predetermined intervals.

16. In a tobacco stripping and booking machine, a booking drum comprisin two sections axially spaced from each ot er, a

pair of circular cuttin members secured to the opposed ends of said drum sections and having registerin recesses at diametrically opposite points w ereby the cutting edges of said members are interrupted at diametrically opposite points=resil1ent stem ejecting members located between said cutting members in cooperative relation tosaid recesses, rotatable means in rolling engagement with said cutting edges, means for actuating said machine and a double arm adjustably connected with said drum sections and cutting members whereby said actuating means is automatically disconnected to stop the machine twice in each complete revolution of said drum sections and cutting members.

17. In a tobacco stripping and bookin machine, a frame, bookin means journal on said frame, a pair 0 circular cutting members carried by said booking means in spaced relation to each other and having registering recesses whereby the cutting ed of said members are interrupted, a re carried by said frame, sleeves independently mounted on said rod, arms located at the opposed inner ends of said sleevefi a roller carried by each arm and arran to independently en age the cutting e ges of said cuttin mem ers, levers at the outer ends of said eeves, springs connected with said levers whereby said rollers are maintained in contact with said cutting edges and stationary stops cooperating with said levers to maintain said rollers out of contact with the booking means when opposite the recesses of said cuttin members.

In testimony whereof I ave hereunto set my hand.

GRAHAM H. JACKSON. 

